Drag & drop your PDF here, or browse to upload
Max file size: 256 MB • Files expire after 5 minutes
How to Compress Your PDF in 3 Simple Steps
- Upload Your PDF: Drag and drop your file into the upload box, or click to browse and select it from your computer.
- Wait for Processing: Our engine will automatically compress your file. This usually takes just a few seconds.
- Download Your File: Click the download link to save your newly compressed, smaller PDF. The link is valid for 5 minutes.
Features of TinyPDF
Secure & Private
Your files are uploaded over a secure connection and automatically expire after 5 minutes, ensuring your data remains private.
High-Quality Compression
Our engine is optimized to reduce file sizes to the minimum possible while maintaining the best possible quality for text and images.
No Watermarks
The compressed PDF you download is clean and free of any watermarks, so your documents always look professional.
Fast and Simple
Just drag, drop, and download. The compression process is quick, and you can have your smaller PDF in seconds without any complex steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does PDF Compression work?
Our compressor scans the PDF for duplicated fonts and images, removes hidden metadata, and down-samples pictures to a web-friendly resolution — all while keeping the visible layout intact.
Does TinyPDF put a watermark on the compressed PDF files?
No. The compressed file you download is clean and watermark-free, so your documents stay professional.
Why does the compressed file look a little different?
Images may be re-encoded to reduce size, which can slightly change colors or sharpness. If fidelity is critical, try a higher-quality setting or keep a copy of the original.
What happens to my files after upload?
Your upload is held in encrypted, temporary storage while it is processed. Temporary files are purged automatically and are never shared.
My download has expired? What do I do now?
For your safety and privacy, compressed file links are only valid for 5 minutes after processing.
It says that an error occurred. What now?
Sometimes a PDF can’t be compressed because it’s password-protected, corrupted, or saved in an uncommon format that our engine doesn’t recognize. Large scanned documents with zero text layers can also fail. First, make sure the file opens normally on your computer, remove any security/passwords, then save a fresh copy (e.g., “Print to PDF”) and try again. If it still won’t compress, drop us a note with the file size and a brief description—our team will take a look.
Understanding PDF File Compression
Why bother shrinking a PDF? Smaller files are essential for efficient digital workflows. They open faster for readers, upload and download more quickly, and are less likely to be rejected by email servers with strict attachment size limits. For businesses and individuals alike, optimized PDFs save time and storage space.
How does it work? Our tool intelligently analyzes your PDF to find opportunities to reduce its size without compromising its quality. This involves several techniques:
- Image Resampling: High-resolution images are downsampled to a web-friendly resolution (like 144 DPI), which significantly reduces file size with little to no visible loss in quality for on-screen viewing.
- Font Deduplication & Subsetting: Embedded fonts can take up a lot of space. Our engine removes duplicate font data and creates subsets that only include the characters used in the document.
- Metadata Removal: PDFs often contain hidden data like author information, editing history, and other non-essential metadata. Stripping this information can further reduce the file size.
- Lossless Compression: We apply lossless compression algorithms to other parts of the PDF, ensuring that the structure and content of your document remain intact.
The result is a much smaller, more portable PDF that's perfect for sharing and archiving.